Review urges major reform in England’s water sector

Review urges major reform in England's water sector
Credit: Getty

UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A major review finds systemic failures in England & Wales water sector, urges reform but faces criticism from campaigners for lacking bold action.

As reported by The Guardian, a government-commissioned review has revealed systemic issues in the water sector, blaming companies and regulators, but faced criticism for lacking strong action.

What did Sir Jon Cunliffe say about the water crisis?

Sir Jon Cunliffe’s interim report, commissioned by the government, concludes that no single radical solution can fix the water industry. He warns that only wide-ranging reform can bring about the fundamental reset required in England and Wales.

According to Cunliffe, head of the Independent Water Commission, public confidence in the water sector has eroded due to pollution, mismanagement, and infrastructure neglect.

Mr Cunliffe revealed he was barred from examining public ownership options. He called for changes in the water sector and its regulation to attract investors ready for low-risk, low-return, and stable investments.

He stated,

“We have heard of deep-rooted, systemic and interlocking failures over the years – failure in government’s strategy and planning for the future, failure in regulation to protect both the billpayer and the environment and failure by some water companies and their owners to act in the public, as well as their private, interest.”

Mr Cunliffe added,

“My view is that all of these issues need to be tackled to rebuild public trust and make the system fit for the future.”

The review suggests Cunliffe may recommend merging regulators to simplify oversight and make economic regulation a more proactive, supervisory role to prevent issues early.

Amid public concern about sewage discharges and rising bills, the government launched Cunliffe’s review. The review suggests the economic regulator ensures water firms serve the public, allowing intervention in company management and ownership changes.

What did Water UK say about fixing the failing water industry?

A Water UK spokesperson stated,

“Everyone agrees that the water industry is not working. We hope this report will be a starting point for the fundamental reforms the sector needs. We need a less complicated system which allows investment to get quickly to where it needs to go.”

What did James Wallace say about the water industry report?

The report faced backlash from campaigners for lacking clear solutions to the crisis, highlighted by Thames Water’s announcement that US private equity firm KKR withdrew from a vital rescue deal, casting doubt on its stability.

James Wallace, the chief executive of River Action, stated,

“This interim report signals some progress on regulation, but it reads more like a sales pitch to international investors and overpaid CEOs than the urgent restructuring of corrupted water companies.”

He added,

“We ask the commission to learn from other countries how to ensure water companies are owned, financed and operated for public benefit.”

What did Tim Farron say about scrapping Ofwat amid sewage scandal?

Tim Farron MP, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, urged the commission to take bolder action and call for Ofwat’s abolition.

He said,

“At the heart of the sewage scandal is a regulatory system which has failed. It’s going to take more than a hose down to clean up the water industry. It’s time for Ofwat to go and the commission must now make this plain.”

What did Giles Bristow say about the water industry report?

The CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, Giles Bristow, argued the report lacked depth and warned the public would not accept watered-down solutions.

He said,

“The criminal behaviour, chronic lack of investment and woeful mismanagement which has led to sewage-filled seas is a direct result of our profit-driven system. This interim report begins to recognise this, but as yet does not spell out the need to end pollution for profit.”

Mr Bristow added,

“The commission’s final recommendations must reshape the water industry to put public health and the environment first.”

What did Richard Benwell say about the government’s role in pollution reform?

Richard Benwell, head of Wildlife and Countryside Link, urged the government to begin immediate reforms to address pollution effectively.

He added,

“The findings of failings suggest a clear direction of travel. Politicians must stop equivocating and set clear strategic direction for environmental recovery. Strong, enforceable targets are needed for water quality that can be applied across sectors.”

Daniele Naddei

Daniele Naddei is a journalist at Parliament News covering European affairs, was born in Naples on April 8, 1991. He also serves as the Director of the CentroSud24 newspaper. During the period from 2010 to 2013, Naddei completed an internship at the esteemed local radio station Radio Club 91. Subsequently, he became the author of a weekly magazine published by the Italian Volleyball Federation of Campania (FIPAV Campania), which led to his registration in the professional order of Journalists of Campania in early 2014, listed under publicists. From 2013 to 2018, he worked as a freelance photojournalist and cameraman for external services for Rai and various local entities, including TeleCapri, CapriEvent, and TLA. Additionally, between 2014 and 2017, Naddei collaborated full-time with various newspapers in Campania, both in print and online. During this period, he also resumed his role as Editor-in-Chief at Radio Club 91.
Naddei is actively involved as a press officer for several companies and is responsible for editing cultural and social events in the city through his association with the Medea Fattoria Sociale. This experience continued until 2021. Throughout these years, he hosted or collaborated on football sports programs for various local broadcasters, including TLA, TvLuna, TeleCapri, Radio Stonata, Radio Amore, and Radio Antenna Uno.
From 2016 to 2018, Naddei was employed as an editor at newspapers of national interest within the Il24.it circuit, including Internazionale24, Salute24, and OggiScuola. Since 2019, Naddei has been one of the creators of the Rabona television program "Calcio è Passione," which has been broadcast on TeleCapri Sport since 2023.